Poll Shows Labor Would Gain Nine Seats in Knesset if Rabin Runs

A public opinion poll conducted for the Monitin monthly magazine by the Dr. Mina Zemach team in the Dahaf Research Institute says that if former Premier Yitzhak Rabin headed an Alignment list in Knesset elections now, the Labor Party list would gain nine seats giving it 56 in the 120-member house while the Likud would lose seven seats, dropping it to only 41 seats. The poll shows that Defense Minister Ariel Sharon’s popularity as possible Prime Minister has dropped from 22 percent to 12 percent. Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir’s popularity for the Premiership rose from 13 percent in July/August to 16 percent now. President Yitzhak Novon’s chance rose from 12 to 15 percent.